I am pleased to inform you about plans for a new $39.9-million Aquatic Centre on UBC’s Vancouver campus. The project was formally approved by the Board of Governors on June 2nd, 2014.

The new centre will house an Olympic-sized competition pool, 25 metre lap pool, a warm-water family pool with a lazy river, and a large hot tub. The facility will offer a mix of student and community programs: high performance training and competition, student clubs, lessons and drop-in use.

In response to the sexist and racist chants heard during student-led September FROSH events on the Vancouver campus, I convened a Task Force to develop actionable recommendations to address issues of gender-based violence and Aboriginal stereotypes. After the draft Task Force report was released earlier this year, the University community provided valuable feedback on these recommendations.